long

Everyday

1. Long tells how much length something has from one end to the other: «14 metres long». tree →
2. Long means having a big length: «long hair», «a long river». tree →
3. Long means lasting a big amount of time: «a long film». tree →
4. To long for something is to want it very much. tree →
5. (casual) «So long» means goodbye; «long time no see» means it's been ages; «long story short» means I'll skip the details. tree →
6. (casual) «Long» can mean boring or a lot of effort (UK slang): «homework's long», «that's long, man». tree →
7. (rude) «Why the long face?» asks why you look sad; «take a long walk off a short pier» means go away. tree →
8. (formal) Exams say «in length», «of a length of», «the duration», «longitudinal», «elongated» and «prolonged». tree →

In the lessons

how many metres or centimetres from end to end; «How long» asks for a length or for a time; phrases: «how long», «metres long», «hours long», «a long time», «as long as» (if), «long ago», «before long» (soon), «all day long»; in casual talk «long story short», «so long», «ages» for a long time, «that's long» (boring); in rough talk «how long you gonna be, I'm not waiting all bloody day»; in the exam voice «a length of 14 metres», «the duration of the journey», «the longitudinal dimension»

Examples

• The red ribbon is 14 metres long. How long is the rope now? tree →
• The film is 2 hours long. tree →
• How long is the pencil? tree →
• The Nile is a very long river. tree →
• How long did it take you to walk home? tree →
• You can play outside as long as you stay in the garden. tree →
• She longed for a puppy. tree →
• bus at 8:40, it's 8:25 now, how long? tree →
• Long story short, he ate 3 of the 5 pies. tree →
• Ugh, this homework's long, 20 sums! tree →
• A conduit of a length of 14 metres is reduced by 5 metres. State the residual length. tree →
• Why the long face? Did you lose the match? tree →
• Where have you been so long? tree →

Note

«How long» asks for a length, or for a time. Trap: «how long did it take» is about time, not metres. Trap: «as long as» means «if», not a length. «long» as UK slang (boring, hard work) has no number meaning. «of a length of» in an exam gives a length. Opposite: short.

In Jewish tradition

how many metres or centimetres from end to end; «How long» asks for a length or for a time; phrases: «how long», «metres long», «hours long», «a long time», «as long as» (if), «long ago», «before long» (soon), «all day long»; in casual talk «long story short», «so long», «ages» for a long time, «that's long» (boring); in rough talk «how long you gonna be, I'm not waiting all bloody day»; in the exam voice «a length of 14 metres», «the duration of the journey», «the longitudinal dimension»

Examples

• Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted; How long? (Torah NUM.24.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'Ye have compassed this mountain long enough; turn you northward. (Torah DEU.2.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, that keep murmuring against Me? (Torah NUM.14.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? (Writings PSA.35.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? (Writings PRO.6.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• How long will ye lay snares for words? (Writings JOB.18.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«How long» asks for a length, or for a time. Trap: «how long did it take» is about time, not metres. Trap: «as long as» means «if», not a length. «long» as UK slang (boring, hard work) has no number meaning. «of a length of» in an exam gives a length. Opposite: short.